Terms of Use

Last Updated: June 8, 2016

By using AEP Energy’s website (the “Site”), you agree to the following Terms of Use, which constitute an agreement between you and the respective owners and operators of the Site. We may change these terms from time to time. You will always be able to view the most current version by clicking on a link at the bottom of any page on the Site. By using the Site, you agree to these Terms of Use. If you do not agree to all of these Terms of Use, do not use this Site.

Reference to we or us or “Company” refers to the owner of the Site including any company it controls or which controls it (for example a parent company of the Site owner or a subsidiary of the Site owner) and its members, directors, officers, employees and agents.

Scope of these Terms of Use

These Terms of Use apply to the Site. We may have other websites that are covered by different terms of use. The terms of use for these other websites are available on the home page of each such app or site.

Proprietary Rights and License

You acknowledge and agree that the Site and its entire contents, features and functionality (including but not limited to all information, software, text, displays, images, video and audio, and the design, selection and arrangement thereof), are owned by the Company, its licensors or other providers of such material and are protected by United States and international copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret and other intellectual property or proprietary rights laws.

The Company name and all related names, logos, product and service names, designs and slogans are trademarks of the Company or its affiliates or licensors. You must not use such marks without the prior written permission of the Company. All other names, logos, product and service names, designs and slogans on this Site are the trademarks of their respective owners.

Subject to these Terms of Use, we grant you a non-transferable, non-exclusive, limited license to use and access the Site solely for your own personal use. You may look at the Site online, download individual pages to your personal or handheld computer for later reading, and print a copy of pages for yourself. You may not remove any copyright notices from our materials. The rights granted to you in these Terms are subject to the following restrictions: (a) you shall not license, sell, rent, lease, transfer, assign, distribute, host, or otherwise commercially exploit the Site, whether in whole or in part, or any content displayed on the Site; (b) you shall not modify, make derivative works of, disassemble, reverse compile or reverse engineer any part of the Site; (c) you shall not access the Site in order to build a similar or competitive website, product, or service; and (d) except as expressly stated herein, no part of the Site may be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or transmitted in any form or by any means.  Unless otherwise indicated, any future release, update, or other addition to functionality of the Site shall be subject to these Terms.  All copyright and other proprietary notices on the Site (or on any content displayed on the Site) must be retained on all copies thereof.

We reserve all of our other rights not granted in these Terms of Use. You agree not to access the Site by any means other than through the interface that is provided by us for use in accessing the Site.

User Content & License

The Site may contain message boards, chat rooms, or profiles, forums, bulletin boards, and other interactive features (collectively, “Interactive Services”) that allow users to post, submit, publish, display or transmit to other users or other persons content or materials (collectively, “User Content”) on or through the Site. All User Content must comply with these Terms of Use.

Any User Content you post to the Site will be considered non-confidential and non-proprietary. By providing any User Content on the Site, you grant (and you represent and warrant that you have the right to grant) to Company an irrevocable, nonexclusive, royalty-free and fully paid, worldwide license to reproduce, distribute, publicly display and perform, prepare derivative works of, incorporate into other works, and otherwise use and exploit your User Content, and to grant sublicenses of the foregoing rights, solely for the purposes of including your User Content in the Site. You hereby irrevocably waive (and agree to cause to be waived) any claims and assertions of moral rights or attribution with respect to your User Content.

You further represent and warrant that:

• You own or control all rights in and to the User Content and have the right to grant the license granted above.
• All of your User Content does and will comply with these Terms of Use.
• You understand and acknowledge that you are responsible for any User Content you submit or contribute, and you, not the Company, have full responsibility for such content, including its legality, reliability, accuracy and appropriateness.
• We are not responsible, or liable to any third party, for the content or accuracy of any User Content posted by you or any other user of the Website.
• You assume all risks associated with use of your User Content, including any reliance on its accuracy, completeness or usefulness by others, or any disclosure of your User Content that personally identifies you or any third party.

You may not represent or imply to others that your User Content is in any way provided, sponsored, or endorsed by us. Because you alone are responsible for your User Content, you may expose yourself to liability if, for example, your User Content violates these Terms of Use. We are not obligated to backup any User Content, and your User Content may be deleted at any time without prior notice. You are solely responsible for creating and maintaining your own backup copies of your User Content if you desire.

Company has and reserves the right to:

• Remove or refuse to post any User Content for any or no reason in our sole discretion.
• Take any action with respect to any User Content that we deem necessary or appropriate in our sole discretion, including if we believe that such User Content violates the Terms of Use, including the Content Standards, infringes any intellectual property right or other right of any person or entity, threatens the personal safety of users of the Site or the public or could create liability for the Company.
• Disclose your identity or other information about you to any third party who claims that material posted by you violates their rights, including their intellectual property rights or their right to privacy.
• Take appropriate legal action, including without limitation, referral to law enforcement, for any illegal or unauthorized use of the Site.
• Terminate or suspend your access to all or part of the Site for any or no reason, including without limitation, any violation of these Terms of Use.

Linking to Us

Usually, we don’t mind if you include a simple link from your site to the Site. However, you must first ask our permission if you intend to frame the Site or incorporate pieces of it into a different site or product in such a way that is not clear to our users that we are the source of the content. You are not allowed to link to us if you engage in the publication or promotion of illegal, obscene, or offensive content, or if the link in any way negatively impact on our reputation.

Children’s Privacy

We are committed to protecting the privacy of children. You should be aware that the Service is not intended or designed to attract children under the age of 13.

No Warranties

WE MAKE NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, COVENANTS OR REPRESENTATIONS OF ANY KIND WITH RESPECT TO THE SITE, THE SERVICES OFFERED THEREON, SITE CONTENT, THIRD PARTY CONTENT OR ANY OTHER CONTENT. WE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED, STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE AND NON-INFRINGEMENT, WITH REGARD TO THE SITE, THE SERVICES OFFERED THEREON, THE SITE CONTENT, THIRD PARTY CONTENT AND ANY OTHER CONTENT, AND ANY PRODUCT OR SERVICE FURNISHED OR TO BE FURNISHED FROM OR ON THE SITE. WE DO NOT WARRANT: THAT THE FUNCTIONS PERFORMED BY THE SITE OR THE SERVICE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, TIMELY, SECURE OR ERROR-FREE; OR THAT DEFECTS IN THE SITE OR THE SERVICES WILL BE CORRECTED; OR THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE SITE CONTENT, THIRD PARTY CONTENT, OR ANY OTHER CONTENT; OR THAT ANY ERRORS IN THE SITE CONTENT, THIRD PARTY CONTENT OR OTHER CONTENT WILL BE CORRECTED. THE SITE, THE SERVICES OFFERED THEREON, AND THE SITE CONTENT AND OTHER CONTENT ARE PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS”, “WHERE IS”, “AS AVAILABLE” AND “WITH ALL FAULTS” BASIS. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE DISCLAIMER OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES, SO THE FOREGOING DISCLAIMER MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. THIS WARRANTY GIVES YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS AND YOU MAY ALSO HAVE OTHER LEGAL RIGHTS THAT VARY FROM STATE TO STATE.

IN NO EVENT WILL WE BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, GENERAL, SPECIAL, COMPENSATORY, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY OR OTHER DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF (I) YOUR CONDUCT OR THAT OF ANYONE ELSE IN CONNECTION WITH USE OF THE SITE, THE SERVICES OFFERED THEREON OR THIS AGREEMENT (II) INABILITY TO USE THE SITE, THE SERVICES OFFERED THEREON, THE SITE CONTENT OR ANY OTHER CONTENT, (III) ANY TRANSACTION CONDUCTED THROUGH OR FACILITATED BY THE SITE; (IV) ANY CLAIM ATTRIBUTABLE TO ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR OTHER INACCURACIES IN THE SITE, THE SERVICES, THE SITE CONTENT AND/OR ANY OTHER CONTENT, (V) UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO OR ALTERATION OF YOUR INFORMATION, OR DATA, OR (VI) ANY OTHER MATTER RELATING TO THE SITE, THE SERVICES OFFERED THEREON OR ANY OTHER CONTENT, EVEN IF WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. IF YOU ARE DISSATISFIED WITH THE SITE, THE SERVICES, SITE CONTENT OR ANY OTHER CONTENT, OR WITH THE TERMS OF USE, YOUR SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY IS TO CEASE USING THE SITE. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, AND THEREFORE SOME OF THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. IN SUCH STATES THE SITE’S LIABILITY IS LIMITED AND WARRANTIES ARE EXCLUDED TO THE GREATEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, BUT SHALL, IN NO EVENT, EXCEED ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100.00).

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT, AT ANY TIME, TO MODIFY, SUSPEND, OR DISCONTINUE THE SITE (IN WHOLE OR IN PART) WITH OR WITHOUT NOTICE TO YOU.  YOU AGREE THAT WE WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU OR TO ANY THIRD PARTY FOR ANY MODIFICATION, SUSPENSION, OR DISCONTINUATION OF THE SITE OR ANY PART THEREOF. YOU ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT WE WILL HAVE NO OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE YOU WITH ANY SUPPORT OR MAINTENANCE IN CONNECTION WITH THE SITE.

IF YOU HAVE A DISPUTE WITH US, YOU RELEASE US (AND OUR MEMBERS, DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS) FROM CLAIMS, DEMANDS AND DAMAGES (ACTUAL AND CONSEQUENTIAL) OF EVERY KIND AND NATURE, KNOWN AND UNKNOWN, ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH SUCH DISPUTE. YOU AGREE TO INDEMNIFY AND HOLD US (AND OUR MEMBERS, DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS), HARMLESS FROM ANY CLAIM OR DEMAND, INCLUDING ATTORNEY FEES, MADE BY ANY THIRD PARTY DUE TO OR ARISING OUT OF (A) YOUR BREACH OF THIS AGREEMENT, OR YOUR VIOLATION OF ANY LAW OR THE RIGHTS OF A THIRD PARTY (B) YOUR USE, MISUSE, OR INABILITY TO USE THE SITE, THE SERVICES, OR THE SITE CONTENT OR ANY VIOLATION BY YOU OF THIS AGREEMENT.).  IF YOU ARE A CALIFORNIA RESIDENT, YOU HEREBY WAIVE CALIFORNIA CIVIL CODE SECTION 1542 IN CONNECTION WITH THE FOREGOING, WHICH STATES: A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR.

Indemnity

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold us, our respective officers, directors, employees, agents, licensors, and suppliers, harmless from and against any claims, actions or demands, liabilities and settlements including without limitation, reasonable legal and accounting fees, resulting from, or alleged to result from, your violation of these Terms of Use.

Laws that Govern this Agreement

We control the Site from our offices within the State of Ohio in the United States of America. The Site can be accessed from any of the United States and from other countries worldwide. Since the laws of each State or country able to access the Site may differ, by accessing the Site, you and we agree that the statutes and laws of the State of Ohio, without regard to choice of law principles, will apply to all matters relating to use of the Site. No waiver of any of these Terms of Use shall be deemed a further or continuing waiver of such term or any other term. We do not make any representation that materials made available through the Site are appropriate or available for use in other locations, and accessing them from territories where their contents are illegal is prohibited. Those who choose to access the Site from other locations do so on their own initiative and are responsible for compliance with local laws.

Modification

We reserve the right, in our sole discretion, to change these Terms of Use from time to time, and your continuing use of the Site constitutes your acceptance of and agreement to any changed Terms of Use. All changes are effective immediately when we post them and apply to all access to and use of the Site thereafter. You are expected to check this page frequently so you are aware of any changes, as they are binding on you.

Member Account, Password, and Security

If you open an account on the Site to use certain of its features, you must complete the registration process by providing us with current, complete and accurate information as prompted by the applicable registration form. You also will choose a password and a user name. You are entirely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your password and account. Furthermore, you are entirely responsible for any and all activities that occur under your account. You agree to notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account or any other breach of security. We will not be liable for any loss that you may incur as a result of someone else using your password or account, either with or without your knowledge. However, you could be held liable for losses incurred by us or another party due to someone else using your account or password. You may not use anyone else’s account at any time, without the permission of the account holder.

Privacy Policy

We pay special attention to privacy issues. The purpose of our privacy policy is to identify the information we may collect about you, describe the uses we may make of your information and the security measures we take to protect it, and describe your options for controlling your information. You can review our privacy policy at www.AEPenergy.com.

Consequences

We may take any legal action we think is appropriate. If your violation of these Terms of Use causes harm to others, you agree to hold us harmless against any liability for that harm. If there is any dispute between us concerning these Terms of Use or your use of the Site, you and we agree to submit the dispute to non-binding mediation, followed by binding arbitration. Both the mediation and the arbitration will be governed under the rules of the American Arbitration Association, and the venue for the arbitration will be Chicago, Illinois. You are thus GIVING UP YOUR RIGHT TO GO TO COURT to assert or defend your rights EXCEPT for matters that may be taken to small claims court. Your rights will be determined by a NEUTRAL ARBITRATOR and NOT a judge or jury. You are entitled to a FAIR HEARING, BUT the arbitration procedures are SIMPLER AND MORE LIMITED THAN RULES APPLICABLE IN COURT. Arbitrator decisions are as enforceable as any court order and are subject to VERY LIMITED REVIEW BY A COURT.

Notice and Take Down Procedures and Copyright Agent

If you believe any materials accessible on or from the Site infringe your copyright, you may request removal of those materials (or access thereto) from the Site by contacting the copyright agent (identified below) and providing the following information:

1. Identification of the copyrighted work that you believe to be infringed. Please describe the work, and where possible include a copy or the location (e.g., URL) of an authorized version of the work.
2. Identification of the material that you believe to be infringing and its location. Please describe the material, and provide us with its URL or any other pertinent information that will allow us to locate the material
3. Your name, address, telephone number and (if available) e-mail address.
4. A statement that you have a good faith belief that the complained of use of the materials is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.
5. A statement that the information that you have supplied is accurate, and indicating that “under penalty of perjury,” you are the copyright owner or are authorized to act on the copyright owner’s behalf.
6. A signature or the electronic equivalent from the copyright holder or authorized representative.

The contact information for the agent for copyright issues for our Site is: Alan Nicgorski Scandaglia Ryan 55 E. Monroe Street 34th Floor Chicago, IL 60603; Telephone: (312) 580-2035 Fax: (312) 782-3806.

Should we receive a notice of infringement of copyright, we reserve the right to take down the content giving rise to the notice.  In an effort to protect the rights of copyright owners, we maintain a policy for the termination, in appropriate circumstances, of subscribers and account holders of the Site who are repeat infringers.  Please note that, pursuant to 17 U.S.C. §512(f), any misrepresentation of material fact (falsities) in a written notification automatically subjects the complaining party to liability for any damages, costs and attorneys’ fees incurred by us in connection with the written notification and allegation of copyright infringement.

Prohibited Uses

You agree not to use the Site to collect, upload, transmit, display or distribute any content that (i) violates the rights of any individual, including copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, moral or privacy rights, publicity rights or any intellectual property or other proprietary right; (ii) that is unlawful, harassing, abusive, tortious, threatening, harmful, invasive of another’s privacy, vulgar, defamatory, false, intentionally misleading, libelous, pornographic, obscene, patently offensive, promotes racism, bigotry, hatred or physical harm of any kind against any group or individual or is otherwise objectionable; (iii) that is harmful to minors in any way; (iv) involves commercial activities or sales, such as contests, sweepstakes and other sales promotions, barter or advertising; or (v) or (iv) that is in violation of any law, regulation, or obligation or restrictions imposed by any third party.

In addition, you agree not to: (i) upload, transmit, or distribute to or through the Site any computer viruses, worms, or any software intended to damage or alter a computer system or data; (ii) send through the Site unsolicited or unauthorized advertising, promotional materials, junk mail, spam, chain letters, pyramid schemes, or any other form of duplicative or unsolicited messages, whether commercial or otherwise; (iii)  use the Site to harvest, collect, gather or assemble information or data regarding other users, including e-mail addresses, without their consent; (iv) interfere with, disrupt, or create an undue burden on servers or networks connected to the Site, or violate the regulations, policies or procedures of such networks; (v) attempt to gain unauthorized access to the Site (or to other computer systems or networks connected to or used together with the Site), whether through password mining or any other means; (vi) harass or interfere with any other user’s use and enjoyment of the Site; or (vi) use software or automated agents or scripts to produce multiple accounts on the Site, or to generate automated searches, requests, or queries to (or to strip, scrape, or mine data from) the Site (provided, however, that we conditionally grant to the operators of public search engines revocable permission to use spiders to copy materials from the Site for the sole purpose of and solely to the extent necessary for creating publicly available searchable indices of the materials, but not caches or archives of such materials).

Geographic Restrictions

The owner of the Site is based in the state of Ohio in the United States. We provide this Site for use only by persons located in the United States. We make no claims that the Site or any of its content is accessible or appropriate outside of the United States. Access to the Site may not be legal by certain persons or in certain countries. If you access the Site from outside the United States, you do so on your own initiative and are responsible for compliance with local laws.

We reserve the right (but have no obligation) to review any content, and to investigate and/or take appropriate action against you in our sole discretion if you violate the Acceptable Use Policy or any other provision of these Terms or otherwise create liability for us or any other person. Such action may include removing or modifying your User Content, terminating your Account in accordance with Section 8, and/or reporting you to law enforcement authorities.

Complete Agreement

Except as expressly provided in a particular “legal notice” on the Site, these Terms of Use constitutes the entire agreement between you and us with respect to your use (and prior use) of the Site.

Questions or Concerns about Our Terms of Use

For questions or concerns about these terms of use, please send an email to legal@aepenergy.com.